How to convert decimals to scientific notation - ACT Math

We want to move the decimal point to the place just after the first non-zero number, in this case 6, and then drop all of the non-significant zeros. We need to move the decimal point five spaces to the right, so our exponent should be negative. If the decimal had moved left, we would have had a positive exponent.

In this case we get 6.009 * 10–5.

Slide the decimal point to the left as many places as you need to make a number between 1 and 10. Multiply that number by 10 to the power of however many decimal places you moved the decimal.

450,000 = 4.5 x 100,000

100,000 = 105 (exponent is equal to the number of zeros)

450,000 = 4.5 x 105

We need to convert into a number of the form .

The trick is, however, figuring out what should be. When you have to move your decimal point to the right, you need to make the decimal negative. (Note, though, when you multiply by a negative decimal, you move to the left. We are thinking in "reverse" because we are converting.)

Therefore, for our value, . So, our value is:

The easiest way to do this is to convert each of your answer choices into scientific notion and compare it to .

For each of the answer choices, this would give us:

(Which is, thus, the answer.)

When you convert, you add for each place that you move to the left and subtract for each place you move to the right. (Note that this is opposite of what you do when you multiply out the answer. We are thinking in "reverse" because we are converting.)

This is a bit of a scientific notation application test.

Because is in the ones place , , and because is in the hundredths place , .

From there, it becomes self-explanatory:

.

Remember to take care that you do not give or instead of .